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Archive 2020Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)

  
 
KarmaKramer
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p.5 #1Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
20 is great for getting ready or dance photos.
24 is probably wide enough but 20 could be used. Its fine to be close during those times. I wouldnt use it for portraits though.

jag09 wrote:
JayPhoto1 wrote
jag09 wroteHave been going back and forth on whether or not to get the 24 GM to pair with the 85 f1.8. Looking to replace my 28-75 with just primes.
Just sold my 28-75 and now have GM 24, CV 40 f1.2, and Sony 85 f1.8 as my small kit with the GM 135 available if additional reach is needed. This new 20mm f1.8 is tempting (GAS related) but I agree with the others that it might be too close to my GM 24 IMO.
How are you liking that small kit so far? Where my situation differs is I only have those two lenses 28-75 and sony 85 f1.8, so the wide end is completely open. The question is "Is 20mm too wide for wedding, event, portrait work?"

Feb 25, 2020 at 01:31 PM
Fred Miranda
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p.5 #2Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
keepcoding wrote:
Fred Miranda wrote
Justin Stone wroteThis Appears to be a lot of lens and features for the cash. Flatness of field, flare resistance, and mid field rendering appear to be without much of a verdict though at this albeit very early stage.

elimoss wroteThe Tokina Firin 20/2 AF and Nikon Z 20/1.8 are around same price.

I think this is pretty reasonable pricing from Sony, at least relative to Sony's usual pricing scheme.
Does it have low field curvature?
Looks like it:

https://youtu.be/1-QM9WMzwUE?t=309


Thanks for posting but these videos are torturous to watch.

We need an infinity distance scene focused at center, mid-field and extreme corners. (so 3 separate images focuses at these areas).
After inspecting the 3 images at center and 100% magnification, we can have a better idea of how FC behaves. The FE 24/1.4 GM is indeed a flat-field lens and hopefully the 20/1.8 will not be far behind.
Feb 25, 2020 at 01:34 PM
keepcoding
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p.5 #3Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
1100€ in Europe. If it doesn't perform significantly better than the Tokina Firin (which is excellent), I won't buy it.

Only 270$ cheaper than the 24mm F1.4 in my country.

Edited on Feb 25, 2020 at 01:43 PM · View previous versions
Feb 25, 2020 at 01:39 PM
bluloo
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p.5 #4Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
Looks like another winner.
Must. Resist. ...
Feb 25, 2020 at 01:41 PM
matt-to
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p.5 #5Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
jhinkey wrote:
matt-to wroteNot a big fan of the sunstars it produces, sadly: https://www.albertdros.com/single-post/2020/02/16/Sony-20mm-f18-Hands-On-Review-Albert-Dros
The stars in the night shots seem OK to me:

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/846d71_55ebaf31d1db412abd334b027f4058a5~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_263,h_240,al_c,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/846d71_55ebaf31d1db412abd334b027f4058a5~mv2.png


Very subjective indeed. It looks like a fantastic lens - I was just hoping for simpler sunstars, more Loxia-ish, which would have convinced me.
Feb 25, 2020 at 01:43 PM
Fred Miranda
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p.5 #6Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
matt-to wrote:
jhinkey wrote
matt-to wroteNot a big fan of the sunstars it produces, sadly: https://www.albertdros.com/single-post/2020/02/16/Sony-20mm-f18-Hands-On-Review-Albert-Dros
The stars in the night shots seem OK to me:

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/846d71_55ebaf31d1db412abd334b027f4058a5~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_263,h_240,al_c,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/846d71_55ebaf31d1db412abd334b027f4058a5~mv2.png
Very subjective indeed. It looks like a fantastic lens - I was just hoping for more simple sunstars, more Loxia-ish, which would have convinced me.


The Loxia sunstars will be more defined even at small apertures and they already look optimal at f/4.5 whereas the Sony will probably need to be stopped down to at least f/11 for decent definition.
There is also a difference between 18-points vs 10-points.
Feb 25, 2020 at 01:49 PM
jhinkey
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p.5 #7Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
Fred Miranda wrote:
matt-to wrote
jhinkey wrote
matt-to wroteNot a big fan of the sunstars it produces, sadly: https://www.albertdros.com/single-post/2020/02/16/Sony-20mm-f18-Hands-On-Review-Albert-Dros
The stars in the night shots seem OK to me:

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/846d71_55ebaf31d1db412abd334b027f4058a5~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_263,h_240,al_c,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/846d71_55ebaf31d1db412abd334b027f4058a5~mv2.png
Very subjective indeed. It looks like a fantastic lens - I was just hoping for more simple sunstars, more Loxia-ish, which would have convinced me.
The Loxia sunstars will be more defined even at small apertures and they already look optimal at f/4.5 whereas the Sony will probably need to be stopped down to at least f/11 for decent definition.
There is also a difference between 18-points vs 10-points.


F/8 looks good and is the aperture used for the bridge photo that I posted/linked to.
To quote
"But the lens not only has nice stars during the night. The so called ‘sunstar’ is also a nice feature of this lens. And again, you don’t have to stop down too much to get it."

f/8 is fine to me, but you are right, the Loxia has nice sunstars at larger apertures which can be handy. We'll see with this lens.

Sometimes I like smaller, but more spikes, sometimes I like the larger, but fewer sunstar spikes. All depends. At least the sunstars it does generate it seems well defined and not all full of flare near the point light source.

Feb 25, 2020 at 02:01 PM
Surfnsun
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p.5 #8Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
I find the sun stars really distracting. However I do like the physical design of this 20/1.8; even if I don't understand why Sony thought it was needed...
Feb 25, 2020 at 02:17 PM
knshshnk
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p.5 #9Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
it's a minor thing and just affects the aesthetic of the lens, and I hope it's a pre-production issue that's being solved, but many of the lens samples from reviewers had misalignment on the aperture dial markings
Feb 25, 2020 at 02:35 PM
jhinkey
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p.5 #10Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
Surfnsun wrote:
I find the sun stars really distracting. However I do like the physical design of this 20/1.8; even if I don't understand why Sony thought it was needed...

What part/attribute of the lens physical design do you not understand that Sony thought it (?) was needed?
Feb 25, 2020 at 02:36 PM
Fred Miranda
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p.5 #11Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
knshshnk wrote:
it's a minor thing and just affects the aesthetic of the lens, and I hope it's a pre-production issue that's being solved, but many of the lens samples from reviewers had misalignment on the aperture dial markings


Unfortunately that happens with GM lenses with aperture rings as well.
Feb 25, 2020 at 02:44 PM
jhinkey
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p.5 #12Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
bluloo wrote:
Looks like another winner.
Must. Resist. ...


Resistance is futile.
Feb 25, 2020 at 02:44 PM
vdo1
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p.5 #13Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
Fred Miranda wrote:
keepcoding wrote
Fred Miranda wrote
Justin Stone wroteThis Appears to be a lot of lens and features for the cash. Flatness of field, flare resistance, and mid field rendering appear to be without much of a verdict though at this albeit very early stage.

elimoss wroteThe Tokina Firin 20/2 AF and Nikon Z 20/1.8 are around same price.

I think this is pretty reasonable pricing from Sony, at least relative to Sony's usual pricing scheme.
Does it have low field curvature?
Looks like it:

https://youtu.be/1-QM9WMzwUE?t=309
Thanks for posting but these videos are torturous to watch.

We need an infinity distance scene focused at center, mid-field and extreme corners. (so 3 separate images focuses at these areas).
After inspecting the 3 images at center and 100% magnification, we can have a better idea of how FC behaves. The FE 24/1.4 GM is indeed a flat-field lens and hopefully the 20/1.8 will not be far behind.


What happened to the most important benchmark ever, "counterlit foliage"?

[/just kidding ]
Feb 25, 2020 at 02:51 PM
Bstrom2414
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p.5 #14Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
elimoss wrote:
The Tokina Firin 20/2 AF and Nikon Z 20/1.8 are around same price.

I think this is pretty reasonable pricing from Sony, at least relative to Sony's usual pricing scheme.


I am amazed at the price considering the performance the features. My preorder is in...
Feb 25, 2020 at 02:52 PM
Bstrom2414
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p.5 #15Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
Jim Schemel wrote:
Not sure i have ever really understood this focal length. Give me 16mm or 24mm.......20mm imo is in no mans land


Those two focal lengths (which I have used a great deal) either exaggerate or diminish the wide angle perspective to me - a 20mm is ideal for the view and visual effect. It delivers a cinematic perspective i like very much - plus, a top and bottom crop and you have a quick panoramic scene.
Feb 25, 2020 at 02:55 PM
akashyap
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p.5 #16Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
My Loxia 21 has been my first foray into Zeiss optics (I have since bought and/or sold CZ 35-70, CZ 80-200, CZ 100-300, RX1RII, and ZM 35/1.4) and was my first prime lens (owned a 10-18 and 16-35 before).

Needless to say, it's earned a special place in my line up and I've really fallen for the 20/21mm fov. However with a recent uptick of wedding invites (we are invited to 8 this year...), I've been using the 24 GM and it's been producing great results. Also, AF for hiking is much appreciated.

While I'm not in for a day 1 pre order, I'm very curious about the comparisons with the Loxia and 24 GM. If the 20/1.8 feels like the 24 GM from f1.8 and onwards, I'll probably replace my only Loxia for it ...
Feb 25, 2020 at 03:00 PM
Steve Spencer
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p.5 #17Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)

Don’t forget the really fast CV 21 f/1.4 😀
jhinkey wrote:
It's fine to have a slow (21CV/3.5), medium (21/2.8 Lox) and fast (20/1.8G) set of 20's - right?

Feb 25, 2020 at 03:05 PM
Fred Miranda
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p.5 #18Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
The Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G is our second 'G series' prime full frame lens. (Sony FE 90/2.8 G Macro was the first)

What other G series prime lenses can we expect from Sony? 15mm? 28mm? 40mm? 200mm?

Also, since the new FE 20/1.8 G is equipped with an aperture ring, XD linear motors and the same buttons and switches as some of the GM counterparts, what really differentiate the G and GM primes now?
Number of aperture blades and the use of Extreme aspherical elements (XA)?
Feb 25, 2020 at 03:12 PM
nloth
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p.5 #19Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
The 20mm share the same XD motors with the 400mm, does it mean it's superior than the DDSSM on 24mm?

Gerald Undone noted the focusing breathing of the new 20mm - I don't remember 24mm being worse in this category. So what's the catch? Thx!

Fred Miranda wrote:
There are differences in the number of blades and focus motors as well:

24/1.4 GM:
11-blade aperture
AF: Redesigned high-power DDSSM (Direct Drive SSM) focus drive system contributes to reduced size and weight while delivering approximately three times greater thrust than the previous system.

20/1.8 G:
9-blade aperture
AF: Two XD (eXtreme Dynamic) Linear Motors easily keep up with the high-speed capabilities of today’s most advanced camera bodies


Feb 25, 2020 at 03:13 PM
Surfnsun
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p.5 #20Back On Sale: Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens for only $798 ($100 off)
Poorly worded on my part. I meant that I don't understand why they brought out a 20mm prime at this point. That's all. Not a big deal. I was just hoping for a different FL. I like the physical design of the lens itself.

jhinkey wrote:
Surfnsun wroteI find the sun stars really distracting. However I do like the physical design of this 20/1.8; even if I don't understand why Sony thought it was needed...
What part/attribute of the lens physical design do you not understand that Sony thought it (?) was needed?

Feb 25, 2020 at 03:17 PM
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